History of Holy Cross

The institution was originally founded as Holy Cross Theological School in 1937 in Pomfret, Connecticut. Since then Holy Cross has served as the seminary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas. In 1946 the school was moved to Brookline, Massachusetts, where the students and faculty could take advantage of the educational and cultural opportunities of Greater Boston. In response to the emerging needs of the Church, and by virtue of its own academic maturation, in 1966 Holy Cross expanded its collegiate division into a full four-year liberal arts college, a distinct undergraduate institution known as Hellenic College. Today the faculties and students of the undergraduate and graduate schools continue to form one community, sharing the same campus and facilities. However, the two schools are academically separate entities. Holy Cross offers graduate programs of study leading to the degrees of Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.), and Master of Theology (Th.M.). Holy Cross has developed into an accredited graduate school of theology, and as such has become one of the most important institutions of the Orthodox Church in the Western hemisphere.

At Holy Cross, education is viewed as an integration of learning and faith. While committed to providing excellence in teaching, learning, and scholarship, the Holy Cross programs also reflect the religious and cultural values of the Greek Orthodox tradition.

Holy Cross strives to fulfill the need of the Orthodox Church to educate each generation of leaders, clergy and laypersons who share a common experience of learning and faith; men and women who, in their chosen professions, will exemplify the values and spirit of Orthodox Christianity.

The institution is engaged in a variety of teaching, scholarship, service, and worship activities directed toward developing the intellectual and spiritual potential of students, as well as enabling the faculty to pursue teaching and scholarship in their various disciplines with academic freedom. Thus, it constitutes a unique environment of personal growth and intellectual maturity for men and women who provide the priestly and lay witness and leadership of Orthodox Christianity in the Western world.

Holy Cross is located in the Greater Boston area, the "Athens of America," notable for its numerous colleges and universities. The city is student-oriented and rich in cultural, educational, and athletic opportunities. Our own campus offers a variety of cultural activities and intramural sports. The underlying source of all of our experiences is our deep commitment to our faith and heritage, which allows us to blend a unified vision of the past, present, and future in all that we do.